CAVENDISH CELEBRATES HIS THIRD WIN AT TOUR DE FRANCE

Mark Cavendish hugged his Columbia team mates after winning his third stage at the Tour de France. Yet again they had protected him during the stage and lead him out in the final kilometers so that he could step up and win yet again.

Cavendish had to look after himself in the final kilometre when a corner reshuffled the pack but he quickly made sure he was on Gert Steegmans?s wheel and then blasted to the line before any of his rivals could start their sprint.

?I was waiting, waiting and waiting for some one to go but nobody did, so I went at 200 out,? Cavendish said.

?It was a little bit harder than the other sprints to be honest because it was a block headwind and it had been windy all day. I?m also a little tired but I was still the fastest across the line. Instead of winning by a few bike lengths I only won by a bike length this time, so it shows how tired I am.?

Cavendish admitted it the hardest win of his three at the Tour de France.

?For sure it was. It was really windy all day, really fast at the end and really hargy bargy. I had to make big efforts to move up but a win is a win, it doesn?t matter if it?s easy or hard. If you?re first across the line that?s what matters.?

?It makes me very proud to be the first British rider to win three stages in a major Tour. It?s nice that I won them in very different weather conditions, too, that makes it more special. That also shows just how good my team are at handling all sorts of sprints and all sorts of situations. I got dropped off on the perfect wheel.”

Asked whether he thought the reason he won was because he’s fastest in the last 100 metres, Cavendish said: “Yes, I think you?re right but it was so windy at the end that the team had to do what they had to do, but they were cunning. I got dropped off but we got back up to the front again. It wasn’t the most ideal finish but it just shows how well they adapt.”

?I?m glad I could get over the Pyrenees for my team mates especially. You?ve seen how hard they?ve worked in the last few weeks and you saw how hard they worked today. It?s just so nice to get another one. I have had a few problems with injuries because of that, but that?s the Tour. Anything can happen. You?ve got to take the pleasure with the pain.?

CAVENDISH ON RICCO?S EPO POSITIVE

Cavendish?s third stage victory is likely to be overshadowed by Riccardo Ricco?s positive test for the new form of EPO but he said it proves the anti-doping tests are working.

“I think it’s a good thing [that Ricco was caught]. I believe that changes are happening. Obviously it’s a cloud over what’s been a pretty decent Tour de France but every time someone gets caught it’s somebody else who’s not getting away with it,” he said.

?I?m here for the sporting side of the Tour, not the political side. I?m here to win. But I can see it?s a massive disappointment for the organisers, even if it proves the tests work and at least it?s another person caught. I woke up this morning and thought I want to win today, and when I heard the news I still thought I want to win. From the sporting side it doesn’t affect me.”

Cavendish is targeting the Madison at the Beijing Olympic Games and has already finished the Giro d?Italia but refused to rule out finishing the Tour de France and winning the final sprint on the Champs Elysees.

“I’ve thought about it of course, it would be a great thing to do,? he revealed.

“I don?t know how far I?m going to go this time round but I?ve got a long career ahead of me, and I?d like to come back some time to the Tour and fight for the green jersey. In any case for now I?m happy to keep going day by day and see how far I can get.?